EU lawmakers, experts, activists laud India for bringing peace in Kashmir; slam Pakistan

Speaking at a press conference at the Press Club Geneva on March 2 on the sidelines of the 43rd session of United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to discuss and assess the condition of Kashmir after abrogation of Article 370, Gianna Gancia, Member of European Parliament, stressed on the fact that India's Islamic neighbour Pakistan has been trying evil means to portray a picture of crisis in Kashmir on international platforms, though to its dismay because of India’s reliance on humanitarian ideals the effort has failed in their evil intentions.

Nathan Gill, former member of European Parliament and member of the famous Brexit party of Britain stated, "What right has Pakistan to discuss the internal affairs of India on International forums? No one makes hue and cry when France fight radical terrorism but creates so much panic and tension when India does something which is solely and wholly an Internal matter of India."

Syed Tehmeena, a women rights activist representing The True Voice of Kashmir , from Kashmir came out as a true voice of the region indeed. She said, “I’m coming from a world which is known as paradise”. She said this paradise was destroyed by the insurgencies and terrorist incidents, and “the abrogation of Article 370 was undeniable need of the hour to get rid of cross border terrorism and insurgencies in Kashmir”

Brian Toll, Expert on South Asia from European Commission and Paulo Casaca, Executive Director, South Asia Democratic Forum, highlighted the facts that after the decades of ongoing instability and terrorist incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Government abrogated Article 370 of the Indian Constitution on 5th August 2019 to bring peace and prosperity in the region.

President of Gilgit Baltistan Studies, Senge Sering, supported India’s bold decision on taking action against the factors destabilise J&K and applauded India for removing such article from the constitution which promoted Pakistan in spreading its fangs across the entire region.

President of Jammu Kashmir National Awami Party (JKNAP), UK, Mohd. Sajjad Raja, added that Pakistan invaded Kashmir on 21st October 1947 and since then it has been under its occupation and it is sheer fiction that India has exploited people of the Valley. Pakistan had and is creating disturbance and Article 370 abrogation is one of the best things that happened with Kashmir since Independence, he said.

Gianna Gancia & Fulvio Martusciello, Members of European Parliament stated that Pakistan ever since Independence has been engaged in pulling back development for which its tool of terrorism has always aided the nation. 

Known across the globe to be a haven for terrorism to prosper, Pakistan has helped infiltration of several terrorists and anti-social elements inside Kashmir that has been threatening normal day to day lives of the local Kashmiris, they said.

Other than members of European Parliament, the event had very rich and experienced panellists. They included Tehmeena Syed from Kashmir; Executive Director of South Asia Democratic Forum Paulo Casaca; former Member of the European Parliament Nathan Gill; Expert on South Asia from European Commission, Brian Toll; President of JKNAP Sajjad Raja, President of Gilgit Pakistan Studies, Senge Sering and Journalist Atika Farooqui.

Senge Sering said a major part of Kashmir has been occupied by Pakistan for 70 years and Kashmir has time and again been the victim of Pakistan’s political purposes. The abrogation of Article 370 has infused new lease of life for Kashmir. However, with fake propaganda, Pakistan is trying to undermine the emancipation process of Kashmir. 
Paulo Casaca drew the attention to the misinformation campaign held by the Pakistan establishment. “Fake propaganda was projected by Pakistan but fiction should be separated from reality”.

Nathan Gill focused on the people of Kashmir and said, “J&K chose to become a part of India and Pakistan illegally invaded it”. 

Based on his experience in Kashmir, he said local people of Kashmir did not want a special status given by Article 370, their only desire was to become an Indian. However, Pakistan conducted a huge propaganda on what’s going in Kashmir; Pakistani lobby peddled fake news on J&K situation at the European Parliament.

Syed Tehmeena expressing intense sorrow and anger said: “My state, paradise on the earth, lost against a fanatical ideology. Insurgencies and terrorism fuelled by the Pakistan establishment undermined it. Kashmiri women became the victim of social practices."

She stated that women were deprived of education, faced domestic violence and excluded from politics. 

Mohd. Sajjad Raja explained the Pakistani interference in the Kashmiri peace process. He said Pakistani militants sneaked into Kashmiris and triggered the youth's radicalisation. “The only way to extricate Kashmir from Pakistan’s exploitation is to support development and become a partner of India’s GDP”.

Atika Farooqui stated that “Pakistani initiated a low-cost proxy war to annex Kashmir” and encouraged Jihadist movements to liberate Kashmir from India, costed lives of 1000. Pakistani army used terrorism, armed terrorist groups, misguided youth.